What Janelle had to say on Thursday, December 13th, 2007
I recently received the cover art for my next book, WILD FOR HIM, which will be out next June 2007. :grin1: It’s so much different than my last two Wilde covers (see to the right on the sidebar for the cover of BORN TO BE WILDE to compare!), that I thought I’d ask your thoughts and opinions on my latest cover. This book is for my “spin-off” series about the military guys introduced in Joel Wilde’s story. Here it is:
Do you love it or is it just not your kind of cover? Do you think it’s too “dark”, as in the “tone” or “color”? Is this a book you’d pick up if you saw it on a bookstore shelf? Feel free to share your thoughts and opinions! Plotmonkey inquiring minds want to know!
Janelle Denison finds it hard to believe that it’s been nearly 25 years since she first started writing romance novels. At first, it was a way to pass idle time while her husband worked swing shift, but before long it became an obsession to get published. Luckily, she kept at it (it took her over 5 years to get that first book published!) and is now a Waldenbooks, Barnes & Noble, and USA Today Bestselling author! Now, after selling over 45 plus novels, she finds that her Plotmonkey pals help to keep her stories fresh and unique, and she can’t imagine writing a story without their input. Janelle lives in Oregon with her husband, Don, along with two teenage daughters that keep life interesting.
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It’s definitely darker, I think it’s a “too grim” kind of dark instead of really sexy and edgy. And the hero is facing away – I’d rather see his face. To be honest, the only reason it might initially catch my attention is because your name is on the cover. Otherwise it probably wouldn’t grab me right away. It almost seems more like a suspense novel than a romance because of the dark cover.
That being said Janelle, if it’s the final cover, then I will definitely be buying the book regardless because it’s a Wilde and I LOVE those Wilde, or Wild, books you do
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It is darker. But I’d buy it!! :elf:
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Morning fellow jungle friends and :monkey :monkey :monkey :monkey
Hi Janelle, the pic of the guy isn’t bad and the colour is darker than your other Wilde book, but as you as you said, it is a spin off…I think that it depends on what that character is going through…maybe it should be black…who knows…the darker colour definitely separates it from the Wilde’s…I like it…can’t wait to read it…
I hope everyone has a great Thursday…we are supposed to be hit with a really severe snow storm starting in the afternoon…the kids are supposed to go home for Christmas vaca too…hopefully none of them gets stuck here in NE Connecticut because of the storm…will check in again later…
Peace and love,
Paula R.
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Good morning Plotmonkeys and all,
Janelle, in regard to the cover…it is definitely different. I would rather see the hero’s face as well plus its hard to see what he’s doing with his hand–I assume its reach for a gun…? I agree that it has a grim feel to it instead of being sexy-dangerous-edgy. That said, I would buy it because your name is on it and it’s a “Wilde–wild” book.
Personally and this is just my opinion which really doesn’t mean squat–it would have worked better and knocked my socks off if the hero were leaning against a table say with his arms folded over his chest or maybe his hands gripping the edge of the table looking straight out at the camera with a little smirk on his face. Then the dark atmosphere coupled with this sexy guy with his shirt off would have given it the “sexy-dangerous-edgy” feel.
Hope everyone has a great day. Good luck with the snow storm Paula.
:cold:
Cher
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The cover is dark but I would buy it. Since it’s a spin off the change of mood is understandable. But of course, with your name on the front cover even if it was black it would still fly off the shelves.
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I’d still buy it because it is a Janelle book. It really does look like a suspense book.
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I, too, wish you could see more of the hero’s face! The publisher wanted to go with a “guy only” cover to separate this new series from the Wilde family series — hence just the guy on the cover.
Is the book a “suspense”? No, not really, but it does have a whole lot more plot than my books normally do. If I’d HAD my choice, I wouldn’t have gone so dark — because my books are never suspensy-dark. I’m just hoping it attacts NEW readers as well as those who’ve followed the Wilde series!
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It’s a Janelle Denison book – I’d buy it anyway.
On the other hand, it’s a half-nekkid guy, so I would pick it up and look at it on that point alone.
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I have to agree that the position of the guy would be better if I could see his face. It is dark, but we are talking about a group of Wild Marines, so I can see it. I will buy the book and am not counting the months until the release!!!
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I love this cover. I think it’s hot…I love the movement and I think the darkness gives it a sexy feel that is different from what is on the shelves nowadays. If I wrote a hero-focused book that was a contemporary, I’d love it! I think it’s
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Donna
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Do you have any say-so in the cover? If we all said we hated it, at this point, is there any way to get it changed? Just curious as to how it all works?
I agree with a lot of the others. The dark doesn’t bother me so much but I’d much rather see his face. But, I’m an old reader so I’ll be in line waiting for it to hit the shelfs even if it didn’t have a cover.
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Any naked male chest that is super fine like that is great! He’s got the whole just getting ready for some fun but crap something is out there look to me. I say 2 thumbs up! If I had a third, I would put that up too!!
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Well first there’s that favorite author’s name…….
I buy all her books
Then there is that word, “Wild”
I love Military style books too :flamer:
The guy is ertainly a hottie
The black/dark background will make you easy to find on the shelf
and your book will stand out from the rest.
What is not to like??? Hugs I can’t wait! :santawhat:
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I do like this cover–as everyone’s said, it’s less playful than your previous covers, but it’s sexy and you can tell the hero is ready for action
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Jodie — I initially talk over cover concepts with my editor, and we’d decided to go with “guy only” covers for the spin-off “Wild” series. But once the cover is done, like now, changes to the overall “art” cannot be made.
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Hi Janelle~ I agree with Julie. I really like it! It doesn’t bother me at all not seeing his face. I can picture him any way I want now.
It’s a 
cover to me and would definitely spark my interest. Of course, any book with your name on it, I buy anyways.
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Janelle, I see a lot of people would love to see the H’s face, but I think it adds an air of mystery and like Jules said, “It’s
” It makes you think about what is on his mind or what he is about to do…is he reaching for a gun? scratching an itch or looking out the grilled window behind him? who knows…but, it is a series about a bunch of ex-Marines, so the mysterious side of it makes sense, especially if they were into some things that people aren’t supposed to know about…
Cher, the storm started earlier than we thought and we have at least 5 students stuck here until tomorrow morning…a lot of the Mexican students were not happy about that either…I think we may have more coming back from the airport today since a lot of flights were either cancelled or delayed…
Peace and love,
Paula R.
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BTW…chapter 4 of Leslie’s book is banging…loving it here…check it out if you haven’t already…
Peace and love.
Paula R.
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Janelle, I love it!!! I think its edgy, and sexy, and I’m glad you can’t see his face because I prefer to envision him my own way. Can’t wait to read it!
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AS someone who knows, I can say that it’s sexiness and edginess fits the hero and the book. It’s amazing.
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The first thing that I noticed about the cover was the arms. Oh, the things those arms could do.
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Janelle, Hope your OR trip went well, & Don’s foot is healing well.
As far as the cover, I am sort of in agreement with many of the Monkeys in that, for me, it’s too dark & suspense-y. Obviously, I’ll buy it, because it’s written by you, but, if it were not, I’d pass it by. Now, I also think IF you’re trying to gain RS buyers, they’d probably like it. I don’t, so, it’s not for me. However, I don’t mind just the guy on the cover–I’d just prefer it not be so dark & dangerous-looking.
OT, for any of the 4 of you, has your system site changed? Of course, I have your site in my Faves. Previously, when I brought it up, the current day’s post came up, along with my name & web address already printed. Now, I have to refresh to get today’s post & type in my info each day. Any thoughts?
Patricia A.
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Janelle, I think the cover is
. I would pick it up and read the blurb if it was by an author I did not know.
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Thanks, Janelle, for answering my question. I knew we’d had the discussion of covers here before but I couldn’t remember if the author had any vote or if it was entirely out of their hands. I do like the idea of just the hero on the cover…and shirtless works too!
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Of course my coment should have said I will NOW count the months until the release! Got to love the HOT, WILD MEN!!!
Leslie, I’m loving the daily read on eharlequin. I hope they put it into a print book at some point.
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Liza, I am right there with you re Leslie’s online book at eHarlequin…I think it would be great as a full length book…
Peace and love,
Paula R.
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I love this cover! It has a great vibe to it. And the half naked guy is
!
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I love it! I know it’s dark but I think it makes it sexy. Not seeing his face didn’t bother me at all, I love seeing his body. It also makes me want to know what he’s thinking and doing by the window. Who’s out there and all that stuff.
I read your books but if I didn’t know who you were I’d pick this one on the cover alone!
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The cover is dark but that might be more intriguing to some. It doesn’t bother me that I can’t see his face, I can fill in the blanks! Of course I would pick up the book because your name is on it.
For those of you where snow is expected I hope it doesn’t cause problems, cozy up by the fire & enjoy the day. :candycane:
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I’d buy it! With that hunk on the cover who wouldn’t? LOL
Actually it is a little darker than I would normally look at but the title and the hunk I would be tempted to look and then yourname would persuade me to buy
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I love the cover and the darkness of it. I can’t wait to read Ben’s story. When will an excerpt be available? It will definitely be on TBB list.
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The cover is dark but I would buy it.
You can make his face out to be any
guy you want 
:cold: and snowy and sleeting here in CT
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It’s awfully dark, but you are the author, so I would buy it.
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I like it and don’t think it’s too dark at all. I like that the hero isn’t ridiculously “beefy” – very nice!
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Janelle, it really is a gorgeous cover. Yes, it’s darker, but maybe that’s a good thing since you’re going in a slightly different “Wild” direction.
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I think every cover is unique in its own way. I’m not the type who picks up a book just because the cover looks appealing. I pick up a book because i KNOW the author is great and I love her stories. I read both modern day books and books that are set back in the 1800s…most of those books usually have characters on the front or inside cover and usually when I see the hero I think…WHAT?? So not how I would have pictured him (and sometimes the guy is ugly lol) I like it when I cant see the face sometimes, it lets ME imagine him. And even if you feel the cover is not what you want it to be, I’m sure the story is going to be
I cant wait.
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I like the cover, but I only tend to judge a book by one when I don’t know the author. It’s one of the Monkey’s books so I buy it. :snowmanhead:
But, can I buy it in June of 2008 and not 2007?? Please??? :wreath:
It took me 3 hours, at 20 mph, to get home from work. Then I had to snow blow. Hubby left Westchester at 1030 this morning and came in right behind me. This has been a long day.
:cold:
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Hi Ev, I feel your pain…it started snowing here at about 11:50 this morning and it is still coming down strong…we have about 8 or 9 inches of snow outside already…that’s good ole NE CT for you…I am just glad that I don’t really have to go out in it. The maintenance have stayed overtime at the school to make sure the roads are cleared away. This is perfect reading weather for, so I should be able to make a dent in my TBR pile…talk to you all later…
Peace and love,
Paula R.
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On another note…my poetry book is now available for sale through Amazon. Just type in my name Paula Robinson and you will find it…when I checked it was number 14…pass the word along to all your friends please…shamelessly using you guys to spread the word…thanks for your support in advance…see I write, just not books like the monkeys do it or other authors here…
Hey, has anyone ever read Kate Douglas Wolf Tales series or her SexyBeast series?
Peace and love,
Paula R.
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Hi Janelle:
I know I ‘m getting into this discussion late, but for all it’s worth, I LOVE the cover! I think it’s hot, intriguing and it makes you want to find out more about “that guy”! My only regret is that it’s not available now. Can’t wait to get it!
Za
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I love the cover!!! Dark and edgy yes, but I think it’s great and would pick the book up for another look.
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Wow, Paula, I didn’t know you wrote! I will go check it out!
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Yes Leslie, I am a poet…I don’t have the gift you :monkey :monkey :monkey :monkey have of writing full length books, but I write short stories. None have been published yet though. I am working on it…
Peace and love,
Paula R.
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I would definitely buy the book since it is by you Janelle!
Normally though if this book was sitting on a table in Barnes & Noble and I didn’t know the author I would not have given it a second look. The cover is way to dark, the male model should be facing you, not away from the reader. Actually the cover would have been better if was in color even with the fact the model is facing away from you. The monotone colors just don’t work at all.
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Paula, don’t sell yourself short! I think writing poetry is a huge gift. Actually any creativity is a gift!
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Thanks Carly…I know what you are saying…this is just a huge step for me, sharing my more personal work with the entire world…it is a little scary because you don’t know what people are going to think about, not only the book, but also you as a person…
I know that NY is getting clobbered by the storm that came through NE CT yesterday, so be careful in Purchase okay…you will probably get more there than in NYC…
Peace and love,
Paula R.
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I likey alot!!!!
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Paula — Congratulations on seeing your first book in print! That has to be hugely exciting! Here’s to many more books!
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I THINK THE DARK COVER IS JUST FINE. LOVE THE MONKEY AND
WOULD LOVE TO HAVE IT. ALSO THE BOOK TOO, NATURALLY
COOL HERE BUT NOT LIKE IT IS IN A BUNCH OF OTHER PLACES.
FEEL SORRY FOR THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN OUT OF ELECTRICITY
FOR A WEEK—1 DAY WOULD BE ENOUGH.
ALICE IN TEXAS
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I like the new cover….
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I love those Wilde men
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the man i s hot, but would love to see his face. but it looks good, the story will be great :elf:
:banana: 
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This is a tasteful cover- shows enough of the “good stuff” without being profane. I would feel comfortable reading this on the bus/el to go to work and would whip it out without hesitation to read in the working lounge. I love the lighting and the cover looks mysterious. All in all, I would say, a very good job!